Studio Album · No. 11
A Kind of Magic Songwriting Credits by Queen
Produced by Queen, Reinhold Mack, David Richards
Queen wrote 9 of 9 documented tracks
Authorship Breakdown 9 / 9 documented
Scored across the 9 tracks with documented writers, by whether Queen carries a lyricist or composer credit.
Share of the 9 tracks where a band member is credited, by role.
By the Numbers
A Kind of Magic doubles as the unofficial soundtrack to the film Highlander, with six of its nine songs featured in the movie, and it arrived as Live Aid revived Queen's career. The songs are still credited to individual members, but collective writing creeps in: "One Vision" is credited to all four, and "Friends Will Be Friends" pairs Mercury with Deacon. It is a transition point, mostly self-authored by individual members but edging toward the shared credits of The Miracle.
Queen's twelfth studio album, released June 2, 1986, produced by Queen with Reinhold Mack and David Richards, the latter now joining the production team. The album incorporates recordings made for the film Highlander alongside new studio material. Roger Taylor's 'A Kind of Magic' became the title track and a major UK hit; the original melody came from Taylor but was substantially reworked with Mercury for the film. Brian May contributes 'Who Wants to Live Forever' and 'Gimme the Prize (Kurgan's Theme),' both written for Highlander. John Deacon contributes 'One Year of Love' and co-writes 'Pain Is So Close to Pleasure' and 'Friends Will Be Friends' with Mercury. 'One Vision' opens the album with all four members sharing a writing credit, one of only two tracks in Queen's career where all four are listed (the other being 'Stone Cold Crazy' from Sheer Heart Attack). The album reached number one in the UK and followed the band's legendary Live Aid performance.